SoW S4

Chapter Three

To anyone wondering, Zayrus is the Master and has been since after The Great War

PART I

A MESSAGE

Senn awoke to a bird chattering outside his home. He rolled out of his bed yawning. A messenger bird was sitting outside. Senn looked at the messenger bird. He nodded to the bird, and it began chirping: "Message from Master Zayrus Kaltaris", Senn frowned slightly when it wasn't Ria's message. The bird continued chatting and Senn carefully listened.

Senn hurried into the little village down the hill. The Voltaris greeted him along the way. Kratos was in the middle of the village helping a young Voltaris carry a few haybales towards a pile near their home. "Kratos, may I have a word with you", Senn called. Kratos dragged the last haybale toward the pile of hay. When he was done, he walked over to Senn. "Is there anything wrong?", Kratos asked while catching his breath. "A meeting with the Ardoni Council has been arranged in a tomorrow", Senn announced. "And?", "I want you to join the council", Senn continued. "It would be an honor", Kratos said. "Great, we will ride north in a few hours".

The two ardoni chatted a bit and then went off doing their own preparation for the journey.

PART II

A FISHER FROM THE TRINITY ISLES

A girl was sitting in the refreshing shade of an acacia tree near the shore of the large ever-flowing sea. She peacefully hummed and swung her fishing rod slightly. The worn bobber rocked a bit in the small waves. A sudden tug in the rod made the girl jump a little. She dragged in her catch, droplets of sweat forming on her forehead with the effort. The heat on the Trinity Islands would be unbearable to most people, but she easily managed.

When the sun set the girl made her way home. As she walked through the city her eyes fell on a few Cydonian knights. She didn't recognize them; they were probably just the new Dragon Stone guards.

"You're back, Gwen", her father greeted her when she got home. The two cooked the fish she caught and ate together.

PART III

AN UNKNOWN ENEMY

The two Voltaris had been travelling for a long time but finally they had arrived in Kaltaria. The moon glowed brightly and the trees cast long shadows on the ground.

"We have sent out scouts after this report from Northwind, and situated extra guards around the attacked villages", Zayrus Kaltaris put in. "I believe being on guard until the culprit is found would be wise", the Kaltaris next to him replied as he looked at all the Masters. Senn felt an uneasy wave hit him, he was very inexperienced in comparison to the other Masters. "Master Zayrus, do you really believe that preparations are necessary in the other ardoni provinces?" Kratos Voltaris argued. Kratos was wise but had accompanied Senn before. Yet he was never afraid to speak the words on his mind. Zayrus shot Kratos an irritated glare and shifted Kaltar to his left hand. "Even if this maniac only has struck in the north of Kaltaria, we will never be sure if they will strike the other provinces", Zayrus objected a tone of anger in his voice. A young female Nestoris stepped to the table, she spoke using large hand gestures and a hasty voice: "I believe sending out a patrol to find whoever is causing this would be the wisest option". She turned her head to look at the other Masters and Senn looked at her horns. She was barely any older than he was, yet she spoke wisely and equally with the much older Masters. He heard the scraping sound of Nestor dragging on the floor as Master Aurelius stepped warily to the table, the young Nestoris stepped to his side to aid the elderly Master. The other Masters looked with respect on the two ardoni. "I believe that I have not introduced my companion", Aurelius rasped as he glanced at the young Nestoris. "This is Rivia Nestoris. She has proved to be clever, cunning and worthy of the honor of joining the council". Rivia looked as if she was about to burst with pride.

Everyone around the table turned their heads at the sound of footsteps outside the entrance to the cave. A young Kaltaris who seemed to be just a child rushed into the room. "Ky 'Zayrus they are here!", his voice was high-pitched, and panic stricken. Rivia, Senn and a few other ardoni darted for the entrance. "Stay here and protect the Masters", Rivia hissed to the guard outside of the cave.

The village above the cave was ablaze. The large flames licked the sides of the mountains. Several Kaltaris rushed around in the village trying to escape. On an outcrop a bit away from the village stood a cloaked figure. Their face was almost entirely covered with a mask and a hood. Senn looked in horror at the figure whose body was only partially lit by the mighty flames. Rivia guided a the Kaltaris to a waterfall. The large waterfall cut through the landscape with a river flowing beneath it. Rivia looked over her shoulder as the last Kaltaris jumped over the river, to safety. When the last Kaltaris was safely across the river Rivia joined Senn.

He drew Thalleous' sword and Rivia drew an iron spear. In the night sky lightning played, and thunder crashed. Rain started pouring down and extinguished the fire.

The cloaked figure drew a large one-edged iron blade and made a large leap towards Senn and Rivia.

Senn fired his Aggrosphere at the unknown figure. They avoided the sphere with extreme precision and agility. The figure turned to them again. They spun their sword creating multiple slashes Aggressium energy. Senn didn't know this song. Rivia reacted quickly and activated her Protebarrier to protect herself and Senn. The figure rushed towards them. This time Senn took the lead to allow Rivia to regain some energy after activating her song. The figure aimed for Senn's hand and Senn blocked the hit, surprised at the strength of the hit. Senn quickly turned his sword and aimed for their neck. They blocked it like it was a child they were fighting. Their swords locked. Suddenly then the figure swooped Senn's legs and he fell to the ground.

They lifted their blade in the air preparing to deliver a finishing, Senn watched in horror as the lightning reflected in the edge of the sword.

Rivia was there in a second, blocking the sword from hitting Senn. She moved her spear quickly to hit their shoulder. They blocked her spear in the air. Rivia didn't let this stop her though. She landed a powerful kick on their chest. Senn tried to stand up but his ancles wouldn't let him.

Then the figure switched to a more offensive style of fighting. They landed a few hits on Rivia and even gave her a bleeding gash in her arm. Rivia gasped in pain and took a few steps back, blood dripping on the ground. Then she threw her spear at them and charged her Aggressium song. She punched them in their stomach. The punch sent them flying backward in a fury of Aggressium energy, causing their hood to fall off.

Their yellow horns and eyes glowed as they slid across the ground. Senn quickly identified them as a female Nestoris around his age. The Nestoris stuck their sword in the ground to stop sliding across the ground. Rivia looked in shock at them but then took a few steps towards them. They glared up at Rivia and then disappeared in a flare of white energy.

Rivia stared in shock at the place where the Nestoris once were. She spun her spear and put it on to her back. She turned to Senn and helped him stand up. "Who was that", Senn said under his breath. "It was an ardoni, right?", he continued. "A Nestoris", Rivia answered, her mind seemed to be elsewhere. She quickly snaped back to reality and grimaced because of her bleeding arm.

They walked down into the cave again. Zayrus, Kratos and the guard stood in a defensive position in front of the other Masters. They lowered their weapons when they saw that it was Senn and Rivia. "What happened up there", Master Siderian demanded. "They were there, and they are... an ardoni", Senn said knowing how the Masters would respond.

"So, you are saying that this maniac is one of our own", Zayrus said as anger spread across his face. "They are not one of our own if they commit such crimes against their own kind", Siderian said. Senn glanced out a little window and outside he saw the Nestoris standing on the cliffside quite far away, her yellow gaze fixed on them. Senn rushed outside leaning heavily on Voltar, the other Masters at his heels. Rivia remained inside with Aurelius, who examined her wound. The unknown female Nestoris' pale-yellow eyes glowed in the dark. Then she took a leap towards them. A few sword-lengths from Senn, she disappeared in the same white energy. Senn caught a glance of her face, covered in a scornful grin.